Community Drive-In

2500 SE California Avenue,
Topeka, KS 66605

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Community Drive-In Theater (present)

The Community Drive-In was opened around 1948 with a 500-car capacity. It was operated by Claude Parris, Community Theatres Inc. By 1955 it was operated by John Basham Jr, Community Theatres Inc. and the capacity had increased to 700-cars + 50 walk-in seats. It closed at the end of the 1979 season

Contributed by Ken McIntyre

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 25, 2014 at 12:58 pm

The Community Drive-In was first listed in the FDY in 1948. By 1954, five drive-ins were listed for Topeka.

irish729
irish729 on February 5, 2017 at 11:28 am

Very close by, just to north of the drive-in was Highland Park High. Many days I would stare out of my classroom window at the big screen and dream about the next time I could be there, watching a movie on a warm summer night. My folks began taking me there when I was very young, in my pajamas. As a junior in high school, I got to know the manager and in exchange for free admission, I’d make cassette tapes of music and snack bar commercials played before and between movies. I loved that theater and was sorry to know once when I went back to Topeka that it had been demolished. I saw movies at all the other drive-in theaters in town, but this one was closest to home as I lived only a few blocks away. The theater may be gone, but never the fond memories I have of it.

WTKFLHN
WTKFLHN on August 3, 2017 at 1:42 pm

Not much on who operated this Drive-in. But in 1960-61 era, I was living in Topeka. I think this Drive-in was taken over by Fox Midwest. At about that time, the got some relief from the consent decree they were living under since the mid-1940’s and were allowed to add some drive-ins. They had one in Johnson county Kansas and I think this one. I work there briefly as assistant concession stand mgr.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on November 12, 2018 at 6:11 am

The site is now retail, including Dollar General and Family Dollar.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on February 11, 2021 at 9:29 am

Same drive-in? Boxoffice, Aug. 23, 1947: “Perish Woodson plans to open his drive-in in Topeka within two weeks.”

rivest266
rivest266 on March 9, 2024 at 10:18 am

Last season: 1979.

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